Genesis 45 When Joseph reveals who he is to his brothers, they are speechless, dismayed at his presence. But Joseph showed that he had passed the test. He had become a godly young man secure, possessing an identity, and understood the purpose of God. He consoled his brothers and encouraged them instead, explaining it was the purpose of God to preserve a posterity for them in the earth and to save their lives by a great deliverence. We need to look at the big picture and not just at the now when we go through our struggles. God has a greater purpose in everything he does in our lives. Nothing is by accident.

God has a way of testing to see if you are really past your past. Joseph's brothers come to him when Joseph had chosen to put his past behind him. God brings his brothers before him. Joseph passes the test of forgiveness from the heart. What a humbling experience for Joseph to be able to truly forgive his brothers.

At the age of 30, Joseph stood before the Pharoah. The pharoah of Egypt gave him high honor by placing him just one position below him. He trusted him completely and gave him the authority to carry out God's plan. Joseph then had two sons He called the firstborn Manasseh - "For God has made me forget all my toil and all my father's house." And the second he called Ephraim: " For God has caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction." When we are willing to let go our past we become fruitful in what God has called us to be.

Interesting chapter Genesis 39 - The most important thing to know in life is that God is with you. When God is with us..... we dont have to worry. Even through the toughest times, God will be with and because he is with us, we can experience blessing and prosperity. God lifted Joseph from the pit and placed him in the palace. Others around Joseph, the Egyptian master saw that the Lord was with Joseph and blessed him. He in turn saw prosperity in his own house because of Joseph. Vs6 says that the Egyptian master left everything in Joseph's hands. Trusted him right?? WEll when you have the Lord there can be amazing blessings.

Inspite of his knowledge of the hatred of his brothers, Joseph shares his dream with them. Not once, twice ( chap 37: 8,9). His brothers called him the dreamer. They mocked at him for his dreams. When God gives a dream hold it in your heart and pray over it. Share it with people who will support you and guide. Sharing it with people who scorn will only discourage you. Apart from Reuben, none of them had mercy on joseph. They took his tunic and cast him into a pit and then sold him to slavery...Jacob's mourning starts from this chapter when he hears of his son joseph that he is being torn by wild beasts.

Jacob forced to move because of his sons deceptive actions, Rachel and Isaac, both dear people in Jacob's life die... Jacob also has no say when his son sleeps with his concubine. He has to deal with so many issues because of his sons. He also says how his sons have now made him a stench in the eyes of the Sechemites because of what happened there.

Before Jacob could leave for his home to meet his dad Isaac and his brother, the Lord has to take him through different tests. One of the major tests is humility. The good thing is God was with him to lead him and protect him through his tests. An influential leader, Jacob had his own ways and sought benefit for himself. God therefore took him through the breaking process. The breaking process made him Jacobn - the deceiving "heel catcher", into Israel, a "prince with God". His journey of various tests made him humble. There was more to come after this through his children..... However he lived a full life to see generations who followed God after him. No wonder we say the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. God chose Jacob though He knew his character, and moulded him to be what He had purposed. Read Genesis 31 - 33 to see more.

God is gracious to those who feel unloved and rejected. This morning I read about how God opening the womb of Leah and not Rachel as Rachel was loved by Jacob more than Leah was. Its hard to live in a house, where within the family you see your siblings being loved by the parents but you feel rejected for no reason. Well know this - God's love reaches to the unloved then and today and always. Be blessed.